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COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



MOUNT MINSI FAIRIES 




MOUNT MINSI 
FAIRIES 

CHARLES K. MESCHTER 




BOSTON : RICHARD G. BADGER 

The Copp Clark Co., Limited, Toronto 



Copyright, 1915, by Charles K. Meschter 



All Rights Reserved 






Some of the silhouettes are 
used through the courtesy 
of The Prang Company. 



Thh Gorham Press, Boston, U. S. A. 



OCT 251915 



)CI.A41609 



To 

All children 

and to all grown ups whose 

life is still sweetened by 

fairy fancy. 




MOUNT MINSI FAIRIES 




Mount Minsi Fairies 

Where Mount Minsi looms so high 
That it seems to touch the sky 
There's a wooded rocky place 
Peopled by a fairy race. 




MOUNT MINSI FAIRIES 



Here in laurel-scented June 
When the deep light of the moon 
Silvers glen and rock and tree 
With its wondrous witchery 
There is faintest noise and bustle, 
Spears of grass make feeblest rustle; 
Then a sentry calls out "Come!" 
In Mount Minsi's fairydom. 




lO 



MOUNT MINSI FAIRIES 



Many fairies trip and fly 

To the trysting place that's nigh ; 

From their homes of woven grasses 

Hurry little lads and lasses, 

From their snowy toadstool tents 

Hasten small inhabitants, 

From snug niches in the rocks, 

From stout limbs which lightning shocks. 

Somewhere northward there's to be 

That night glorious revelry. 




II 



MOUNT MINSI FAIRIES 



At the trysting place await 
Curious coaches in great state; 
Eagles' feathers found in rocks 
Form the fairies' wagon box, 
In the magic moonlight glint 
Wheels cut from the mountain flint. 
For coach horses, bumblebees 
Lassoed in Mount Minsi's breeze — 
Ten pairs prancing, strong, bewitched 
To each gorgeous coach are hitched. 
Harness wrought of threads of gold 
Horse and coach together hold. 
On these golden trappings toss 
Plumes of dainty tufts of moss, 
Little bells whose fine tones seem 
Soft and sweet as in a dream. 



12 



MOUNT MINSI FAIRIES 



Fairy feet make dainty clatter, 
Round each coach there's tiny chatter; 
At this merriment of voices 
Minsi's great heart e'en rejoices. 
Half a score of coaches wait, 
In each fifty souls elate. 
Now each driver in this train 
Tightens up his golden rein, 
Each bee with its ears atip 
Listens for the word and whip. 




MOUNT MINSI FAIRIES 



Off^ — the wondrous cavalcade ! 
Off — upon their glorious raid! 
Where the craggy ways are not 
There these gaudy horses trot, 
Where the road is rough and high 
There these humming palf ries fly. 




H 



MOUNT MINSI FAIRIES 



Now they've reached The Promontory 
Looming in the silver glory, 
Where they linger and alight 
To behold the rapturous sight; 
Each wee heart with heaven fills 
As they scan the vale and hills; 
Back, they see Mount Minsi's crown 
From the splendid stars look down; 
Yonder, Tammany grand and pale 
Gazes through his moonlight veil; 
Far below, the waters twist 
'Neath their coverlet of mist ; 
Far beyond, hills, sky, and stream 
Melt together In a dream. 




15 



MOUNT MINSI FAIRIES 



While these small hearts are elate 
Five score bumblebees await; 
While the fairies grow endearing 
Bees are champing, pawing, rearing; 
WTiile the fairies sweetly twitter 
Golden reins and traces glitter. 




i6 



MOUNT MINSI FAIRIES 



Coaches on the trail bowl by 
With their steeds that run or fly, 
Magic horses whose sweet hum 
Cheers this jolly fairydom. 
Soon the merry riders reach 
A secluded lakelet's beach. 
All immediately explore 
Glinting waves and sandy shore. 
For canoes each tarnward heaves 
Turned up rhododendron leaves ; 
Butterflies are pilots brave 
In this riot on the wave, 
And unfurl in gentle gales 
Their artistic wings for sails; 
Captured fireflies give their light 
That these ships may sail aright; 
Laurel bells form canopies ; 
Cushions moss plucked from the trees. 



17 



MOUNT MINSI FAIRIES 



Laughter chorus fine and rare 
Echoes in the lakelet's air; 
Dainty songs are heard, that seem 
Floating from an oriole's dream. 
Sleepy fish come up to see 
All the wondrous riotry, 
And at once in nightgowns play 
Leapfrog to pass time away, 
Some e'en from the water vault 
Thrilling rainbow somersault; 
E'en the sober timid trout 
Acts as if he were a lout. 




MOUNT MINSI FAIRIES 



But all carnivals must end ! 
To the shore the boatmen wend; 
Quickly flickering boatlights fly 
To the underbrush near by; 
In the night too disappear 
Sails and faithful gondolier. 




19 



MOUNT MINSI FAIRIES 



By the brook the faifies talk, 
Long Caldeno's stream they walk, 
Often leap on mossy stones. 
Listen to the streamlet's tones. 
Sometimes rush beneath the spray 
Shining in a moonlight ray, 
Often on a leaf they glide 
To the brooklet's farther side, 
And again try catching fish 
That in shallows dart and swish; 
Sometimes by a laurel cluster 
There is fairylovers' fluster. 




20 



MOUNT MINSI FAIRIES 



What astounds them in their path! 
They behold Diana's Bath 
And observe a strange commotion 
Fading from this classic ocean; 
They surmise they've put to flight 
That grace at her water rite. 
Instantly the crow^d is raving 
On delights of seashore bathing 
And without delay decide 
Going in this sacred tide. 
Into it some boldly dash, 
On the edge some shyly splash, 
Others are buoyed by the surf 
Out upon the mossy turf, 
Some bask far out on the beach 
Where the wavelets never reach, 
In the shadow suave addresses 
Mix with lovers' warm caresses. 
Fairies must be up and gone — 
Matin gods, delay the dawn! 



21 



MOUNT MINSI FAIRIES 



Down the brook the fairies trip 
Lightly as the dewdrops drip, 
Lovingly they wend their way 
Where Caldeno Falls display, 
Here the elfins congregate 
For their vaunted sumptuous fete. 




22 



MOUNT MINSI FAIRIES 



Here within the dell's expanse 
There is dainty dizzy dance. 
From the nooks and chinks around 
Fairies come so gaily gowned : 
Dresses made of sunset glow, 
Others of the Gap rainbow, 
Some created from the mist 
Dyed with morning's amethyst. 
Gorgeous gowns without a seam 
Woven from a baby's dream; 
Tiny jewels rich and rare 
Sparkle in the moonlight air, 
Glisten in bewitching tresses, 
Lighten from enchanting dresses. 
Flash from arms and turn the night 
Into marvelous daylight. 



23 



MOUNT MINSI FAIRIES 



For lights closely in a line 
Fireflies gladly sit and shine; 
For an orchestra ten frogs 
Take their seats on sodden logs 
And with white vests, coats of green, 
Think their like has ne'er been seen. 
Now their leader clears his throat. 
Makes each player get his note, 
And upon amphibious fiddles 
They perform their music-riddles; 
Every string is wildly twanged, 
Frantically the bassdrum's banged: 
Fairies so complexly twirl 
Every frog's brain's in a whirl: 
Like confusion in a trance 
Is Caldeno's devious dance. 



24 



MOUNT MINSI FAIRIES 



Every bird has left its bed 

For the big trees overhead, 

All the bees and butterflies 

Come and open wide their eyes, 

Bugs and insects almost fall 

In the dell so near they crawl — 

One poor June bug dressed in yellow 

Broke his neck, pushed by a fellow. 




25 



MOUNT MINSI FAIRIES 



Now the dancing's almost o'er, 
There's a change, all clear the floor; 
Jonah Frog steps forth and sings, 
With his voice the forest rings; 
With his great deep quavering bass 
He's a genius 'mong his race: 
Any mortal w^ith that tone 
Easily would stand alone. 





I 


Sfcf^^fc: .;*^^iS^# 


#;PS 



26 



'MOUNT MINSI FAIRIES 



THE FROGS SONG 

For Nao7?ii my love 

is like a grief. 
For her my heart beats like 

An aspen leaf. 

Refrain 

Ker chug, ker chug! A grassy rug 
And the sky's blue make home for tuo. 
Ker chug, ker chug! 

Her love no other maid- 
en can displace, 

I show my sweetheart's love 
upon my face. 

For her my heart is like 

a mountain oak. 
For her all day and night 

I croak and choke. 

For Naomi I some- 
times almost die. 

For her I'll pluck a star 
out of the sky. 



27 



MOUNT MINSI FAIRIES 



Strings again are wildly twanged 
And the bassdrum's loudly banged. 
Dancing over, night goes fast; 
Glory waits as a repast. 
Just beyond Caldeno's spray 
Banquet boards are in array. 
Round the boards attendants wait 
In dress suit and pompous state, 
Now the orchestra plays low 
While the fairies march in slow. 
Arms of each elf-man are laden 
With a captivating maiden — 
Each maid's splendor dulls the luster 
Of her gems' and jewels' cluster, 
And all tiny violets wear 
On their breast and in their hair. 
Several dapper lads, who found 
Too few ladies to go round, 
Stragglingly bring up the rear, 
Feel and look a little queer. 



28 



MOUNT MINSI FAIRIES 



Delicacies are growing higher, 

Waiters move as jerked by wire ; 

Everything each fairy wishes 

Is before him on the dishes. 

Greedy bugs push toward the fare 

Just as closely as they dare, 

While in their orchestral seat 

Sit the frogs and meekly eat. 

Oh, how savory that meal 

Where there 're friends and laughter-peal! 

Hunger sated, 'tis made plain 

Artists are to entertain — 

One among them, 'tis averred, 

Sings far finer than a bird. 

(Hereupon birds nudge each other 

And the bitterest feelings smother.) 



29 



MOUNT MINSI FAIRIES 



Now the prima donna rises 

And with song the night baptizes. 

THE fairy's song 

Where moss-shadows creep 
And are cool and deep 
All day I lie and dream And sleep. 

When the night tolls ten 
I am up again 
To wend wild ways in hill and glen. 

In the soft sweet spray 
Down the brook's blithe way 
I lightly flit and softly stray. 

In Mount Minsi's gale 
I sublimely sail 
Until the mellow stars turn pale. 



30 



MOUNT MINSI FAIRIES 



Echo bares this song away 

While it makes gay hearts more gay. 

Ere they end their festal rite 
All insist that one recite: 
She consents reluctantly 
To recite about the sea, 
Telling of a youth who mourns 
For a nymph that loves its storms. 
Her rich voice sounds in the air 
Grander than a hermit's prayer. 




31 



MOUNT MINSI FAIRIES 



THE MAID OF THE STORM 

Upon a golden beach there lay 
A hopeful youth one summer's day 
While fragrance from the tropic lands 
Was wafted to those seashore sands. 

Just when the sun was dropping low, 

When gulls flew wildly to and fro, 

A fearful storm drew swiftly nigh 

And pitched the breakers to the sky, 

And hurled the sea against the rocks, 

That shook the shore like earthquake shocks; 

The frantic deep sprayed thick and far 

And hid with mist the evening star: 

Then from the foaming sea a form 

Game dripping up — Maid of the Storm. 



32 



MOUNT MINSI FAIRIES 



Her head was scarfed in flying mist, 

Her robe was Neptune's amethyst, 

Her locks shone like a comet's tail 

That makes the brightest stars look pale, 

Her cheeks and breast were like the white 

That newly falls on winter's night. 

And in her eyes of deepest blue 

An endless universe shone through. 

This mermaid's song then sounded clear 

And reached the youth, brought heaven near. 




33 



MOUNT MINSI FAIRIES 



THE MERMAID S SONG 

Down within this zuild wide sea 
Is the happy home for me. 
Where the rich-hued fishes play 
There I while the time away. 

There's ?ny sea-home built of pearl. 
There the waters spout and swirl. 
On a cliff of gold it stands 
Sweeping leagues' of watery lands. 

Seagrass stretches on and on 
To where mortals view the dawn. 
For the stars of my rich night 
Countless diamonds flash their light. 



M 



MOUNT MINSI FAIRIES 



There are spires with pearly tips. 
Domes where soothing water dripSj 
Chimes of seashells that sound far 
Sweeter than all earth strains are. 



Pretty mortal, couldst thou be 
Happy doivn in my fine sea? 
Fare thee well, I go away 
Where my rich-hued fishes play. 




MOUNT MINSI FAIRIES 



The sea grew calm, the clouds passed on, 
The Maiden of the Storm was gone. 
Each day the youth frequents that spot 
To see the Maid who rises not. 

From five-hundred hearts more light 
Praises sound upon the night. 
Since they scent the morning air 
Fairies for their home prepare. 
But the anguish on those faces 
In the coils of love's embraces. 
For in scores of little hearts 
Fairy Cupid shot gold darts! 




MOUNT MINSI FAIRIES 



By Caldeno's tiny strand 
Coaches wait for Minsiland, 
Once again in moonlight glint 
Wheels cut from the mountain flint, 
For the fairies so endearing 
Bees are waiting, champing, rearing, 
Golden reins and traces glitter 
While the people fondly twitter. 
Plumes of dainty tufts of moss 
On the golden harness toss. 
Little bells whose fine tones seem 
Soft and low as in a dream. 
Whips are cracked and coaches dash 
Homeward like a lightning flash! 
Every pretty elf has come 
In Mount Minsi's fairydom. 




37 



MOUNT MINSI FAIRIES 



From the mountains darkness rolled; 
On them morning's molten gold. 




38 



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